Shorin Ryu Shidokan Karate Dojo

Lineage

Martial Art Karate

Karate can be traced back to Okinawa, where its current form was developed by Sokon (Bushi) Matsumura in the 1800's.

As bodyguard to the last 3 Okinawan kings, His system of "Sui Di" (our hand) Martial Arts evolved in what is known as Shorin Ryu Karate, and in 2023 it will still provide adults with an incredible program that focuses on self-defense reactions and improves their lives, physical strength, and mental acuity using natural body movements.

Imagine Training in an Okinawan Self Defense Karate School that traces its lineage directly to the recognized source of karate, the Okinawan, Sokon "Bushi" Matsumura!

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Sokon Matsumura (1809-99)

- the founder of modern self defense karate

Most Karate lineages trace back to Sokon Matsumura, the personal body guard to the last three Okinawan Kings who named his martial art techniques Shuri-te. Shuri being the Okinawan capital. Te or de meaning hand. He combined local Martial Arts techniques (Sui di or "Our Hand") with Chinese Kung Fu and Thai Boxing techniques. Matsumura was also widely known as Bushi Matsumura, or Warrior Matsumura because of his Martial Arts skills.   

Anko Itosu (1831-1915)

One of Matsumura's most famous students who is also called the Grandfather of Okinawan Karate. He renamed Matsamura's Channan Katas as Pinan 1 & 2. He developed plus Pinan Katas 3, 4 & 5. The Pinan Katas were used to teach karate to school children.

In addition to Matsumura, Itosu studied with Gusukuma (unrelated to the one mentioned below) He also used the name of his karate as: Shuri te (Shuri hand) and taught the next two renown instructors:

Shinpan (Shiroma) Gusukuma (1890-1954) 

- Sensei Iha's first karate instructor

A school teacher and acupuncturist. He was well known for his sturdy, powerful karate even though he was small in stature.  Shinpan Gusukuma developed Okinawan Shuri-te.

His techniques can still be found in both Shorin-Ryu and Shito-Ryu styles. He developed Kihon Katas 4 & 5.

Choshin Chibana (1886-1969) 

Known as the ultimate karate expert on Okinawa. He taught a wide range of students. Many refer to him as the Karate Samurai. Chosin Chibana called his karate: "Kobayashi", yet the Kanji can also be read as "Shorin ryu"  小林流.   This is the onset of Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate

Chibana promoted five of his students to 9th Degree and they developed their own karate schools. Katsuya Miyahira's Shidokan is the most prominent in Okinawa, Canada, Argentina and Brazil, followed by Nakazato's Shorinkan (the most widely practiced in the United States), and Higa's Kyodokan focused mostly in Okinawa, Argentina, Uruguay and Italy. 

Note: There are three major styles of Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate: Chibana's Kobayashi, Shimambukuro's Shobayashi and Nagamine's Matsubayashi.  While pronounced the same, the Chinese Kanji characters used to define them are very distinct. There is also Matsamura Seito of Hohen Soke, also considered a Shorin Ryu School.

Katsuya Miyahira (1918-2010) 

- Sensei Iha's second Karate instructor

Miyahira studied longer with Chosin Chibana than any other student. In 1948 Katsuya Miyahira named his Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate school or dojo: Shidokan. 

The patch we wear on the left chest

志  (Warrior, Right, Heart, Correct, Gentleman)

道  (Way/Path)

館  (Place)

Shidokan meanings:

- Warrior Path/Way Place,

- Right Path/Way Place,

- Heart Path/Way Place or

- Gentleman's Path/Way Place

One Okinawan woman told me it meant Samurai Way.

Miyahira was one of 5 people Chibana promoted to 9th Degree. Chibana relinquished his Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate Association duties to Miyahira before his death.

Miyahira was promoted to 10th Degree in 1978 by the Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate Association.

Seikichi Iha, Hanshi, 10th Degree,  Grand Master Okinawan Shorin Ryu Shidokan Karate. Recognized by the Okinawan Government as an Intangible Cultural Heritage Asset, the highest honor the Okinawan Government can bestow upon a Karate Master.

Iha began his karate studies with his uncle and then in 1950 begn studying with Shinpan (Shiroma) Gusakuma. After Gusukuma died in 1954 he began studying at the Shidokan Karate Dojo with Katsuya Miyahira.

Sensei Iha moved to Lansing, Michigan from California in 1975. After teaching in many locations he opened the Original Okinawa Karate Dojo on East Michigan Ave. in Lansing and still teaches there. His students have established dojos throughout the United States, Canada, Israel, Colombia, Okinawa, and the rest of Japan.

Upon receiving his 10th Degree in 2001 from the Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate Association he named his Karate Association: Beikoku Shidokan: American Shidokan.

Iha's students wear the Shidokan patch on the left chest and the Beikoku Shidokan 米国志道館 patch on the left shoulder. (See Image Below)

Sensei Iha was Katsuya Miyahira's senior student and is still so identified on Miyahira's Okinawa Dojo leader board still hanging today.

(see picture)

Robert Roberto Curtis, Hanshi,

9th Degree, Virginia Dojo

Roberto began martial arts classes in 1969. He studied judo, Shorinkan Shorin Ryu karate, Shotokan Karate, Goju Ryu Karate, and Kung Fu. After a 4-year overseas assignment, in 1979, he returned to his dojo in Lansing, MI to discover Sensei Iha, now Grand Master, 10th Dan, had begun teaching there and changed the name to Original Okinawan Karate. He continues to train with this internationally renown Karate Grand Master and his students Black Belt promotions are by him.

During Roberto's many long-term overseas assignments he trained US Embassy Security Personnel, US Marines, foreign security agents, and people just like you in Okinawan Shorin Ryu self defense Karate. When stationed in the United States he always developed a cadre of dedicated karate students.

Roberto now concentrates on teaching proven-effective, adult-focused, self defense martial arts at the Virginia Dojo.

He focuses on teaching effective self defense reactions to violent attacks.

Roberto is a member of the Mid-West Beikoku Shidokan Black Belt Testing Panel and the National Testing Panel.

In 2020 & 2021 Roberto was recognized as the "Best Martial Arts Teacher in Alexandria" by Expertise.